The Decline of the Landline 435
Death Metal writes "The phone network is thus not just a technical infrastructure, but a socioeconomic one. The more Americans abandon it to go mobile-only or make phone calls over the Internet, the more fragile it becomes: its high fixed costs have to be spread over ever fewer subscribers. If the telephone network in New York State were a stand-alone business, it would already be in bankruptcy. In recent years it has lost 40% of its landlines and revenues have dropped by more than 30%."
But without landlines... (Score:5, Funny)
Let me be the first to say: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Of course it's declining (Score:4, Funny)
Grandpa still used the outhouse.
Man. I hate SBC/AT&T as much as the next guy, but even I think that metaphore was pretty harsh...
Re:why would you ... (Score:4, Funny)
Can't audio data from cell phones be sent and received in mp3 format? It would improve quality immeasurably by using a digital format like this surely?
Re:Decline of the Landline (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Decline of the Landline (Score:2, Funny)
> but only AFTER the wireless networks are robust enough for people to stay connected in emergencies.
No no no... it's never OK for landlines to be removed from service. It's the only way to get in or out of the Matrix! We don't stand a chance against the machines without it!
Re:Stephen Hawking? (Score:4, Funny)
I don't know how many times Stephen Hawking has called trying to sell me a super collidor, a neutrino detector or some such thing. I keep telling him, "No, I don't have $5B! And stop calling me during dinner!"